“It [the election code of conduct] will be effective from tomorrow (Monday),” Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told Republica.
The Election Commission (EC) on July 10 had endorsed the code of conduct. [break]
The code of conduct will be applicable to candidates, political parties, their cadres, the government and its various bodies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and media organizations.
Asked when the constitutional body would start monitoring implementation of the code of conduct, Election Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung said, “Though it will be monitored from tomorrow (Monday), the commission is working to form a monitoring unit led by Election Commissioner Ila Sharma to make monitoring more effective.”
Gurung stated that EC has been working on the directive and work policy on monitoring.
The election code of conduct comes into force at a time when some disgruntled political parties, including Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, are in talks with the government, while the Constituency Delineation Commission (CDC) is yet to come up with its report.
According to the code of conduct, political parties and candidates can use helicopters for election campaign only in Solukhumbhu, Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Kalikot, Bajhang, Bajura and Jajarkot districts.
EC has allowed candidates competing under the proportional electoral system to spend a maximum of Rs 75,000 each, while candidates under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system can spend a maximum of Rs 1 million each for election campaign.
As per the code of conduct, FPTP candidates must submit reports on their funding and expenditures to district election offices while the political parties should submit their reports to EC within 35 days of the announcement of poll results.
EC can slap a fine Rs 100,000 on candidates found violating the code and can also annul candidacy if it deems that there cannot be free and fair election because of the violation of the code by anyone. The constitutional body can bar a candidate from contesting elections for six years if the candidate is found spending beyond the set limits.
According to the code of conduct, local authorities should ban the sale of alcoholic drinks after 8 pm from the date of filling of candidacies till three days before the polling date. Sale of such drinks will be banned altogether three days before the polling date till the results are announced.
The election code of conduct also prohibits the government from effecting promotions other than the regular ones. Similarly, the government cannot announce new programs other than those mentioned in the government budget.
The code of conduct has prohibited graffiti at religious and historical monuments and government buildings.
According to the election code of conduct, political parties and candidates should not deface the pamphlets of rivals. The code has prohibited burning of effigies of others during the election campaign. It has also prohibited both private and state owned media from supporting any candidate or political party.
Political parties should also clean up wall graffiti within 60 days of the announcement of poll results. Similarly, two or more political parties or leaders cannot hold rallies or gatherings at the same place at the same time.
As per the code of conduct, publicity campaigns can be carried out only from 7 am to 7 pm. Political parties and candidates will not be allowed to engage in election campaigning 48 hours before voting and after the vote.
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